Key-ring.



PATENTED JULY 26, 1904.

L. SIERSDORFER KEY RING.

APPLICATION rum) 00124, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

INVENTOH gar/M051? F/l/ ATTORNEY UNITED STATES Patented July 26, 1904.

PATENT OEEIcE.

LOUIS SIERSDORFER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO GEORGE IRVING, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

KEY-RING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 765,754, dated July 26, 1904.

Application filed October 24, 1903. Serial No. 178,396. (No model.)

To all, whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LOUIS SIERSDORFER,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Imprm'ements in Key-Rings, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to key-rings such as are commonly employed to hold a bunch of IO keys for greater safety and convenience in the carrying and handling thereof; and the invention has for its principal object to provide a device of this character wherein the keys may be applied to and withdrawn from 5 the ring with increased ease and facility, a

minor object of the invention being to provide in connection therewith ameans of identiiication or advertisement.

To these ends my invention consists in the combination, with a ring, of elastic material, preferably metal, divided at one point and having its meeting ends normally pressed together by the elasticity of the material, of a novel device in the nature of a cam-faced 5 opening member, which may be forced between opposite inner points on the ring on opposite sides of the meeting-ends thereof to separate the latter, and thus permit the removal or application of a key.

3 My invention will be clearly understood when explained in connection with an illustration of the preferred embodiment thereof, such as is contained in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of the keyring closed and with the opening device in idle or inoperative position. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the opening device in its operative position, wherein the ring is opened 4 for the application or removal of a key. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the opening device detached, and Fig. 4 is a similar plan view of a double-faced opening device.

Referring to the drawings, 5 designates the ring, which is preferably made of a good grade of steel, this ring being divided at a point therein and preferably having one of the meeting ends provided with a recess or socket 6, while the opposite end is pointed, as shown at 7, to normally lie within said 5 socket and maintain the ring closed against the accidental displacement or loss of a key therefrom.

9 and 10 designate a pair of keys mounted on the ring in the usual manner, and 11 des- 5 5 ignates the chief novel element of the invention, the same consisting of an opening strip or plate, one end of which has a hole 12, by which it is mounted 'on the ring, while the opposite end is characterized by the formation thereon of an inclined or cam surface 13, extending from one of the longitudinal edges thereof through a portion of the width thereof and terminating in a straight face 14 at right angles to the longitudinal edges thereof. The 5 strip or plate 11 is made of such a length that when turned to a position wherein it is coincident with a diameter of the ring the lower end of the cam-face 13 will just engage the inner surface of the ring, whereupon a light pressure 7 applied to the upper edge of the member 11 readily forces apart the ends 6 and 7, so that a key, such as 10, lying on that side of the member 11 on which the opening lies may be readily slipped through the latter. Preferably this pressure is applied to such extent as to bring the straight face 14: into engagement with the ring, which automatically locks the member 11 in ring-opening position. As soon as the key has beenwithdrawn or applied through the opening thus created between the ends 6 and 7 a quick push of the thumb or finger throws out the locking member 11 and permits the ends 6 and 7 to immediately snap together in closing position. 8 5 Fig. 4 illustrates a slight modification of the opening member, wherein the latter (designated by 11) is provided with a pair of inclined or cam faces 13, extending inwardly from the opposite longitudinal edges thereof 9 and joined centrally of that end of the strip by a straight face 14, disposed at right angles to the longitudinal margins. This form of opening-strip requires a somewhat greater w1dth; but it has the advantage of being double- 9 5 act1ng-that is, it Wlll open the ring by pressure applied thereto either from above or beneath the ring when thrown into diametrical position relatively to the latter.

An incidental and useful feature of the opening strip or plate 11 or 11 resides in its capability of use as a tag for identification, advertising, and similar purposes. For instance, it may bear engraved or otherwise marked thereon the name or name and address of the owner, or it may have a registration-number by which the owner may be identified, or it may carry an advertisement,the ring and opening tag being given away or sold as an advertising novelty.

I claim- 1. The combination with an elastic key-ring, of an opening member carried thereby having a cam-surface adapted to force apart the meeting ends of the ring, substantially as described.

2. The combination with an elastic key-ring, of an opening member apertured at one end to receive the ring, and provided on its opposite end with a cam-surface whereby the meeting ends of the ring may be forced apart, sub stantially as described.

3. The combination with an elastic key-ring, of a strip or plate apertured at one end to receive the ring and provided on its opposite end with a cam-surface and With a straight surface at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the strip whereby the meeting ends of the ring may be forced apart and maintained separated, respectively, substantially as described.

t. The combination with a circular key-ring of elastic material, of a combined identification-tag and opening member in the form of a strip or plate of slightly greater length than the diameter of the ring, said strip or plate being mounted on the ring at oneend and at its opposite end having a pair of inclined or cam faces extending inwardly from each longitudinal edge thereof, respectively, and. terminating in a straight face lying transversely of the intermediate longitudinal portion of the strip, substantially as described.

LOUIS STERSDORFER.

Witnesses:

SAMUEL Pom), GEORGE .IRVING. 

